jOBS actors address criticism from Woz

Actors say the film "was done with the utmost love, admiration, and respect."

SAN FRANCISCO, CA—"I've never done work playing someone who lived before, and I was terrified at the notion of that," said actor Ashton Kutcher, on stage during the opening keynote of Macworld/iWorld 2013. He and Josh Gad, who plays Steve Wozniak across from Kutcher's Steve Jobs in the upcoming biopic jOBS, opened the annual conference by talking about their experiences getting into the roles of Jobs and Wozniak for the silver screen. The team even addressed criticism from Woz himself about the film's authenticity: "If I had the chance to sit down with [Woz], I'd tell him it was done with the utmost love, admiration, and respect," Gad said.

Backing up a few steps, Kutcher started the talk by detailing his own experiences growing up with Apple products. He owned an Apple IIGS as a kid and went on to program in FORTRAN while in college for biochemical engineering. He eventually bought a PC to communicate with his professors in school but switched back to a Mac once the iPod came out in 2001. "You couldn't even integrate your iPod easily at the time with a PC; it was a little bit hacky," Kutcher said during the interview.

"Working with Ashton and seeing his technical savvy was mindblowing," said Gad.

Kutcher pointed out he had followed Jobs' career throughout his own life as a student, then an actor, and now a venture capitalist who invests in technology. "Steve was someone I try to emulate in my work, and somebody I've learned an immense amount from," Kutcher said. "When the screenplay popped up in the industry, we knew this movie was going to be made. I wanted it to get told in a way that honors my hero."

But the prospect of portraying a real person—instead of a fictional film character—was daunting for both Kutcher and Gad. Gad highlighted his relative lack of technical expertise compared to Kutcher going into the film, having only been familiar with Apple since the 1997 return of Steve Jobs. "I was as computer illiterate as Steve Wozniak was computer literate," said Gad, who took programming classes as part of his preparation for the role as Woz. "The fact of the matter is that acting, by its very nature, is faking," he said. "You don't really become that person unless you're psychotic, so [the classes] were about understanding what the hell I was saying."

But despite the team's focus on authenticity, there has been criticism of the film since its debut at the 2013 Sundance festival. Most notably, Wozniak himself nitpicked the accuracy of various parts of the film, telling Gizmodo certain elements of the personalities were wrong and that he himself never would have dressed the way Gad did in some scenes. "I never looked like a professional," Woz said.

"Sorry I didn't know what your exact wardrobe was during that particular week," Gad joked during the interview, "but there will always be debates about what we got right and what we got wrong. I really appreciate [Woz] and I hope that when he sees the movie in his entirety, he'll understand that we went to great lengths to capture the essence of his journey."

Kutcher added that the film isn't a documentary—it's a movie interpretation of events. "These are the first private conversations [between Woz and Jobs], and we weren't there. If you look at the extent of these two guys' journey together, there were a lot of moments when there was probably nobody else there," Kutcher pointed out. "You have to kind of ride the arch of the entertainment of the film and interpret who these people were and what their intent was. What was important to me was to capture the authenticity of the people involved."

The team also detailed how learning about Jobs and Woz affected their lives after the film. "To me, the second I delved into the research, it really is this story to a certain extent like John Lennon and Paul McCartney," Gad said. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime duo who is so mutually beneficial to each other. I am in awe of what Steve Wozniak created and his legacy, but I'm also in awe of the other side of him, which is his prankster fun-loving spirit."

"Steve [Jobs] had an ability to say no to everything except for the mission," Kutcher added. "The message I hope people take away is that Steve believed it was possible to do something impossible. Don't settle for what life gives you. Have that passion and understanding that you can be greater than what you are today, and you can make something to make people's lives greater."

It's clear that Kutcher and Gad felt connected to the characters despite Woz's criticism. And when asked whether Kutcher—now an entrepreneur with his hands in numerous technical companies—would have invested in Apple back in 1977, he gave a measured response. "When I look for companies to invest in [today], I look for people who are hacking a solution to a problem where there's a great density of people hacking that solution," he said. "At that time, there was a growing density of people putting together kits and motherboards and whatnot. They found a way to eliminate friction from that process by saying you can have the package all in one. I would hope I would be intelligent enough and wise enough to invest in that opportunity."

"The message I hope people take away is that Steve believed it was possible to do something impossible. Don't settle for what life gives you. Have that passion and understanding that you can be greater than what you are today, and you can make something to make people's lives greater."

I don't like watching biopics that gob off their subjects. Instead of "love, admiration, and respect" focus on "factual accuracy, characterization, and themes."

Steve was an interesting person who had many successes and friends, but also made many mistakes and alienated a lot of people. It's important to consider all sides of a person when looking back at their life and trying to infer lessons.

I don't like watching biopics that gob off their subjects. Instead of "love, admiration, and respect" focus on "factual accuracy, characterization, and themes."

Steve was an interesting person who had many successes and friends, but also made many mistakes and alienated a lot of people. It's important to consider all sides of a person when looking back at their life and trying to infer lessons.

This is what I was thinking. You can't do a very good (not even considering accurate here) story about someone if you are blinded by hero worship of the person in question. We know people aren't endlessly noble automatons even when dealing which much more saintly figures and we certainly don't want to see an infallable version of someone we know had very real flaws. And guess what, those flaws drive the drama that's supposed to make this story entertaining.

I loved Pirates of Silicon Valley. I'm curious how this movie will play out. I definitely plan on seeing it. The only problem with Pirates of Silicon Valley was a symptom of when it was made: it ended at a point in Jobs' career and Apple's history that preceded a lot more very interesting events, such as the transition to x86 and the introduction of the iPod and iPhone.

"Working with Ashton and seeing his technical savvy was mindblowing," added Gad.

That quote was mindblowing. Further evidence to support my theory that jOBS is just one big Hollywood ruse like "I'm Still Here" or "Catfish."

Don't know about Catfish (haven't seen it), but "I'm Still Here" is a true work of art. I haven't seen this movie yet, but just knowing this wasn't the Sorkin-related project, has made me expect less of it.

"The message I hope people take away is that Steve believed it was possible to do something impossible. Don't settle for what life gives you. Have that passion and understanding that you can be greater than what you are today, and you can make something to make people's lives greater."

WTF? Seriously? Is that Steve Jobs?

He was a kid given up for adoption and went on to form the most successful tech company as a young kid, among other achievements in life, and truly believed that everyone should have a computer and know how to easily use one. This is a very true statement. You may disagree with how he tried to achieve his goal, but it doesn't change the validity.

---Totally wrong. Personalities and where the ideas of computers affecting society did not come from Jobs. They inspired me and were widely spoken at the Homebrew Computer Club. Steve came back from Oregon and came to a club meeting and didn't start talking about this great social impact. His idea was to make a $20 PC board and sell it for $40 to help people at the club build the computer I'd given away. Steve came from selling surplus parts at HalTed he always saw a way to make a quick buck off my designs (this was the 5th time).

The lofty talk came much further down the line.---

I don't think this is nitpicking. It is clear that the vision of what computers could do came originally from Woz, and picked up later by Jobs. Whether that was merely a marketing strategy or he eventually drank the cool-aid may be here or there, but it is clearly something that he adopted later. If that journey isn't portrayed in the movie it becomes a different kind of myth altogether.

I don't like watching biopics that gob off their subjects. Instead of "love, admiration, and respect" focus on "factual accuracy, characterization, and themes."

Steve was an interesting person who had many successes and friends, but also made many mistakes and alienated a lot of people. It's important to consider all sides of a person when looking back at their life and trying to infer lessons.

This is what I was thinking. You can't do a very good (not even considering accurate here) story about someone if you are blinded by hero worship of the person in question. We know people aren't endlessly noble automatons even when dealing which much more saintly figures and we certainly don't want to see an infallable version of someone we know had very real flaws. And guess what, those flaws drive the drama that's supposed to make this story entertaining.

He didn't write the movie, direct it, or edit it. And I give him enough credit to be professional in his portrayal. Lots of actors played figures they admired with mostly good results.

I loved Pirates of Silicon Valley. I'm curious how this movie will play out. I definitely plan on seeing it. The only problem with Pirates of Silicon Valley was a symptom of when it was made: it ended at a point in Jobs' career and Apple's history that preceded a lot more very interesting events, such as the transition to x86 and the introduction of the iPod and iPhone.

If they wanted to know what the relationship between Jobs and Woz was like in an undocumented state...why not ask the Woz?

I would guess that they figured they'd get a biased response. Ask a child what caused the fight while the other child isn't around and you don't get the truth. Even when both children are there you might not get the truth. Not trying to say that Jobs and Woz act like children, but just using that as an example of how our human nature tends to bias our story telling.

One of the main roles (Woz) is still alive. The other is well documented. It sounds like they wanted to play with the script to tell the story they wanted to tell, not the story that...you know...happened.

Was there anything them from getting Steve Wozniak or anyone else close to Jobs involved? I

What it sounds like to me, is that this movie wants to celebrate the pop culture icon that is Steve Jobs, not the man himself.

Anywho, I am quite eager to see both films but I think I will much prefer the Sorkin one.

I loved Pirates of Silicon Valley. I'm curious how this movie will play out. I definitely plan on seeing it. The only problem with Pirates of Silicon Valley was a symptom of when it was made: it ended at a point in Jobs' career and Apple's history that preceded a lot more very interesting events, such as the transition to x86 and the introduction of the iPod and iPhone.

I also enjoyed Pirates of Silicon Valley. It gets a bit of hate though which I don't understand.

Kutcher and co have made it clear this wont be a biography and is unlikely to match the Walter Isaacson book "Steve Jobs" which is meant to be very accurate.I do like the Kutcher spin of Jobs that truth doesn't matter reminds me of the "reality distortion field" which is talked about in Isacson's book...It's great that we have choice, the "woz" endorsed movie, or the Kutcher "entertain rather than reality" version. Time will tell which one is better received.

"The message I hope people take away is that Steve believed it was possible to do something impossible. Don't settle for what life gives you. Have that passion and understanding that you can be greater than what you are today, and you can make something to make people's lives greater."

"The message I hope people take away is that Steve believed it was possible to do something impossible. Don't settle for what life gives you. Have that passion and understanding that you can be greater than what you are today, and you can make something to make people's lives greater."

WTF? Seriously? Is that Steve Jobs?

Or better yet...

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." - Steve Jobs

Not that Hollywood is completely incapable of being historically accurate, it's just that historical accuracy is typically pretty boring to the lowest common denominator (the massed that must be appeased to maximize profits).

I would personally be astonished if Woz agrees with most of the content that will inevitably be in the movie simply because he knows better. However, if you rely on such accuracy from a majority of Hollywood "based on a true story" movies, then you are expecting too much.

Similar to the fact that I wouldn't expect anyone who has studied William Wallace to appreciate Braveheart, but that doesn't mean you can't have a hell of a time watching the flick. It's not a history lesson, it's entertainment, and while it's difficult to do so it should be judged moreso by it's entertainment value and not so much on its historical accuracy.

Why does Ashton Kutcher's Wikipedia not mention anything about his technical literacy? I had no idea this guy knew his way around hardware, that he programmed in FORTRAN or that he studied bio mechanical engineering.

I guess I fell victim to assuming he is what he plays on the big screen.. a bro/frat boy idiot. I had no idea he is so sharp. You learn something new every day, it seems.

"The message I hope people take away is that Steve believed it was possible to do something impossible. Don't settle for what life gives you. Have that passion and understanding that you can be greater than what you are today, and you can make something to make people's lives greater."

WTF? Seriously? Is that Steve Jobs?

He was a kid given up for adoption and went on to form the most successful tech company as a young kid, among other achievements in life, and truly believed that everyone should have a computer and know how to easily use one. This is a very true statement. You may disagree with how he tried to achieve his goal, but it doesn't change the validity.

He was a great business man, wanted to be rich (stole money from Woz from business deals) ...etc and that's about it, yes he lead Apple to be the most successful company on earth, yah..that's great for the share holders...and that's about it.I don't worship Steve Jobs the way you do ...

Why does Ashton Kutcher's Wikipedia not mention anything about his technical literacy? I had no idea this guy knew his way around hardware, that he programmed in FORTRAN or that he studied bio mechanical engineering.

I guess I fell victim to assuming he is what he plays on the big screen.. a bro/frat boy idiot. I had no idea he is so sharp. You learn something new every day, it seems.

Back in the days (when I was in college) you have to take FORTRAN as a required course for all engineering majors.

"The message I hope people take away is that Steve believed it was possible to do something impossible. Don't settle for what life gives you. Have that passion and understanding that you can be greater than what you are today, and you can make something to make people's lives greater."

WTF? Seriously? Is that Steve Jobs?

Yes. Watch "The Lost Interview" and his commencement address at Standford.

"The message I hope people take away is that Steve believed it was possible to do something impossible. Don't settle for what life gives you. Have that passion and understanding that you can be greater than what you are today, and you can make something to make people's lives greater."

WTF? Seriously? Is that Steve Jobs?

Yes. Watch "The Lost Interview" and his commencement address at Standford.

"The message I hope people take away is that Steve believed it was possible to do something impossible. Don't settle for what life gives you. Have that passion and understanding that you can be greater than what you are today, and you can make something to make people's lives greater."

WTF? Seriously? Is that Steve Jobs?

Or better yet...

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." - Steve Jobs

I don't like watching biopics that gob off their subjects. Instead of "love, admiration, and respect" focus on "factual accuracy, characterization, and themes."

Steve was an interesting person who had many successes and friends, but also made many mistakes and alienated a lot of people. It's important to consider all sides of a person when looking back at their life and trying to infer lessons.

Don't assume too much, too soon. Here's a review of the movie, where the author notes:

Quote:

But not all was cheery for the film. Many scenes featured an incredibly energetic Jobs; prideful and hurt—even to the point of outrage. Some scenes showed him crying and even screaming. If they hadn't of had this I would have been pretty disappointed. The real Steve Jobs had a reputation for being rash, emotional, and even childish. Kutcher handled the intensity so well, you could feel the stillness in the theater after he would yell at a subordinate.

So it looks like they're doing justice to the asshole side of Jobs as well as the visionary.

He was a great business man, wanted to be rich (stole money from Woz from business deals) ...etc and that's about it, yes he lead Apple to be the most successful company on earth, yah..that's great for the share holders...and that's about it.I don't worship Steve Jobs the way you do ...

Worship is not necessary to clearly recognize that saying "...and that's about it" is not at all accurate.

Anyone on earth, even any CEO, would go to their grave with great satisfaction if they ever had the chance to revolutionize one industry and successfully did it.

The reality of Steve Jobs, even without worship, is that he was instrumental in:- Revolutionizing the computer industry...multiple times (Apple II, Mac/GUI/mouse, iMac...)- Revolutionizing the music industry...multiple times (iPod, iTunes Music Store dethroning Walmart and all B&M stores)- Revolutionizing the phone industry (iPhone. Including innovations such as the no-keyboard touchscreen, visual voicemail, and freeing the phone from carrier bloatware/branding requirements)- Some would say revolutionizing the animated movie industry (Pixar), though his role there was smaller

The impact of Jobs on world industry is far beyond what a person would normally hope to achieve. To revolutionize not one world industry, but at least three.